Healthy Update, the weekly e-newsletter of HealthWorld Online (www.healthy.net), provides the latest news and resources from the world of healthy living, alternative medicine and Self-Managed Care. To view HTML version and the Healthy Update archives: www.healthyupdate.com

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Black-Listed Cancer Treatment Could Save Your Life!
The key to stopping many cancers has been around for over 30 years. Yetit has been banned by the very agency designed to protect your health-the FDA. A German research scientist discovered a natural formula that could prevent and even cure cancer. Her findings, which were barred from the medical journals, are now finally available in an updated English translation.

Elderly Americans Seem to Thrive
Americans are not only living longer but also more vigorously than ever. Fewer people over 65 require nursing home care and more are living on their own, with little or no outside help, a study shows. Older Americans now are better educated, tend to take better care of themselves than ever before, and are taking advantage of new medical knowledge about how to stay healthy.

Patients' Rights Effort Is Sputtering
It's been more than three years since consumer groups began blitzing Congress with daily first-person accounts of patients' struggles with health maintenance organizations (HMOs). Although these reports of health care nightmares struck a chord with lawmakers and the public, no federal legislation has been passed, and the issue now appears to be fading from the list of Washington's top priorities. HMOs are contacting doctors to seek help in the fight against making insurers liable - appealing to doctors' traditional dislike of malpractice suits. HMOs suggest a system of independent medical review boards, instead of courts, to hold HMOs accountable.

Ginseng & Diabetes
Researchers have found that American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) can help lower blood sugar levels in people both with and without type 2 diabetes. Ginseng may lower blood sugar by slowing digestion, increasing sugar uptake in cells or by increasing insulin levels -- researchers aren't sure of the exact mechanism. If you take ginseng -- for whatever reason -- be careful to watch for any hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) reactions.

The Healer Within
Every original culture on the planet earth has a system of "hands on" healing. In western cultures this is generally called massage. As the movement toward alternatives to drugs and surgery progresses massage will emerge as one of our primary new, while actually ancient, therapeutic modalities. Hospitals, and even corporations, are hiring massage therapists to help with healing and to prevent the negative impacts of stress. In "Self-Applied Massage" Dr. Roger Jahnke explains how to effectively perform self-applied massage.

Mind Over Matter
In "Cancer, Weight Gain and Inactivity: drop the pounds and cut the risk!" Barry Bittman, M.D. shares the World Health Organization's expert panel report that up to one third of cancers of the colon, breast, kidney and digestive tract are attributable to too much weight gain and too little exercise. While their findings do not imply that weight gain or inactivity are the only causes of these forms of cancer, their data cannot be ignored. The bottom line is simple. Despite our technological advances in cancer treatment over the last few decades, there simply isn't a rational substitute for adopting a sensibly balanced lifestyle.

Understanding Homeopathy
Homeopathic medicines are indeed powerful tools but they are not effective in treating all diseased states, according to nationally-recognized homeopathic expert Dana Ullman in "The Limitations and Risks of Homeopathic Medicine." Some conditions do not respond to microdoses because they require surgical intervention, others require immediate and certain relief of symptoms, others are addressed by simple nutritional or lifestyle changes, still others are relieved only upon reduced exposure to certain environmental stresses--and then, there are those who don't experience improvement from homeopathic medicine for unknown reasons.

Mind Boosters
Alzheimer's Disease is a progressive deterioration in mental functioning with onset most commonly starting in one's 80s, although it has been known to start as early as age 30. While scientists have not fully determined the actual causes of Alzheimer's disease, a number of treatment options have been proposed. These include the use of antioxidants, blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine, and improving blood flow to brain cells. In "Supplements For Patients With Alzheimer's Disease" Ray Sahelian, M.D. encourages everyone who knows someone with Alzheimer’s to urge them to explore nutritional therapies. His column references specific research-backed suggestions.

"Revisioning Science" With Dr. Willis Harman
Science doesn't handle the topic of consciousness very well. In "Revisioning Science" interview with Russell E. DiCarlo, Dr. Willis Harman addresses the issue of the scientific world view aimed at prediction, and control, and creating technologies and the need to balance with the awareness that the causes of things are not out in the material world at all, but at non-measureable, spiritual levels.

Healthy Shopping-
Teeccino - Nourish Yourself with Caffeine Free Herbal Coffee
Coffee drinkers may be surprised to learn that herbal coffee actually has nutritional benefits which help nourish and keep the body healthy. Coffee, on the other hand, only supplies the drug, caffeine, which stimulates your adrenal glands but does not provide energy - actually it could deplete the body's energy reserves. Teeccino is the first herbal coffee on the market - a blend of herbs, grains, fruits and nuts that are roasted, ground and brewed just like coffee. Dark, rich, and full-bodied, Teeccino brings you all the satisfaction of a robust brew with no caffeine reaction. Teeccino tastes mildly sweet from dates and figs, but only has 15 calories per cup.

Healthy Bookstore
The book "Psyche's Seeds: The Twelve Sacred Principles of Soul-Based Psychology" by Jacquelyn Small offers "Twelve Seed Thoughts for the Journey" and "Psyche's Four Tasks" which give readers immensely practical personal exercises for creating a soul-based psychology. Jacquelyn Small shows how it is only when we learn to combine soul and psychology that we find the true path to a higher purpose and a better sense of self. She uses the archetypal myth of Psyche and Eros to show readers how to combine their psychological and spiritual searches. Just as the mythical Psyche had to learn a new set of life principles to free herself from the jealousies of Aphrodite and win the love of the goddess's son Eros, so do we need to use Psyche's lessons to combine the forces of our psyche and soul.

Healthy Stress Update
If you are unable to get going in the morning, suffering from energy slumps, and craving stimulants throughout your day, you may well be a caffeine addict. In "The Easiest Way To Reduce Stress And Rebuild Your Natural Energy Supply" by Caroline MacDougall explains how caffeine causes the adrenal glands to pump out stress hormones to create a "fight or flight" syndrome. Instead of energy, caffeine is simply creating stress which robs your natural energy stores while accelerating aging. If you want to get off of the rollercoaster of blood sugar swings and reduce irritability, depression and anxiety, click on the article below to learn how to take back control of your life, rebuild your adrenals, and replenish your natural energy supply.

Featured Center
Looking for a healthcare professional who specializes in alternative and complementary therapies? The Find a Practitioner Network contains searchable directories from 20 leading professional associations in complementary and integrative health care, with over 16,000 professionals in the fields of Complementary Medicine, Holistic Health Care, Nutritional Medicine, Herbology, Naturopathic Medicine, Homeopathy, Mind/Body Health, Guided Imagery, Environmental Medicine Holistic Dentistry, Chelation Therapy and Vision Care/Vision Training.

Healthy Child Update
Measles is a serious, highly contagious viral infection of childhood. Symptoms of measles include fever, malaise, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis. The symptoms get worse over a period of a few days, and on approximately the fourth day, a rash appears. In "Measles" Janet Zand L.Ac., O.M.D. goes on to detail all of the symptoms and guidelines for parents to consider for treating their child - conventional treatment, dietary guidelines, nutritional supplements, herbal treatment, homeopathy, and acupressure.

Alternative Medicine Schools Directory Now Offered On Healthworld
Through a relationship with NaturalHealers.com, the leading provider of resource directories on alternative and complementary medicine education, HealthWorld now offers an comprehensive directory of alternative medicine schools. The directory includes listings for over 70 systems and modalities of alternative medicine, from acupuncture, homeopathy and naturopathic medicine, to aromatherapy and massage. Featured schools are given in depth profiles with school history and background, mission, featured programs, and ability to request more information on the institution.

Medical Cybrarian Research Service
Need information right NOW? The HealthWorld Online Medical Cybrarian provides just the information you need, and there is no extra charge for speedy turnaround from request to report!

The Cybrarian offers you personalized research service, searching the Internet, books, MEDLINE and other databases, to find EXACTLY the information you require. The Cybrarian can custom design research for individual patients or healthcare professionals, as well as healthcare industry business people, including information on diseases, treatments, products, market research or statistics for alternative, complementary and conventional medicine. For reasonable fees, the Cybrarian carefully gathers and selects the information or points you to useful web sites and other sources, with the speed and searching techniques acquired from many years of professional research.

Association Network -- Hot Pick
The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) is a coalition of individuals and national organizations with concern for the care and well-being of mothers, babies, and families. Their mission is to promote a wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce costs. This evidence-based mother-, baby-, and family-friendly model focuses on prevention and wellness as the alternatives to high-cost screening, diagnosis, and treatment programs.

Visit http://motherfriendly.org

Global Health Calendar -- Hot Picks

Yoga at the Leading Edge
Celebrate the grace of movement and all that is yoga today
Lenox, MA USA
May 17-20, 2001
Contact: Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health - 800-741-7353

Computer Vision Syndrome Eyecare Seminar
Rutherford, NJ USA
May 20, 2001
Contact: Optometric Extension Program Foundation - 949-250-8070

Botanical Medicine in Modern Clinical Practice
New York, NY USA
May 21-25, 2001
Contact: Columbia University/Rosenthal Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine - 212-543-9542

2001 World Congress on Complementary Therapies in Medicine
Washington, DC USA
May 25-27, 21001
Contact: Mosby/Continuing Education & Training
- 800-826-1877

Marketplace 2001:
An Odyssey to the Future...Momentum for Today...
National Nutritional Foods Association Annual Convention
Las Vegas, NV  USA
June 6-9, 2001
Contact: National Nutritional Foods Association - 800-966-6632

Expo Europe 2001
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland NETHERLANDS
June 12-14, 2001
Contact: New Hope Natural Media - 303-939-8440

The Healing Spirit of Energy Medicine
Integrating Science and The Medical Arts
Boulder, CO USA
June 14-20, 2001
Contact: International Society for the Study of
Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine - 303-425-4625

Clinical Training in Mind/Body Medicine
Boston, MA USA
June 25-29, 2001
Contact: Center for Training in Mind/Body Medicine
- 617-632-9542